Joker 2 is now moving right along at Warner Bros. and another huge star may be joining Joaquin Phoenix. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lady Gaga is in talks to appear in the sequel, currently going under the title Joker: Folie a Deux. Should the deal close, it is expected that the pop star turned actress will play none other than a new version of Harley Quinn in the film.
But that’s not all. The report also notes that the sequel is also expected to be a musical. Yes, a musical, as unbelievable as that may sound. The big hold-up right now is securing a deal for Phoenix to return but negotiations are currently taking place. Todd Phillips, who co-wrote and directed the first Joker, is returning. He co-wrote the screenplay with Todd Silver, which we recently got a glimpse at.
Here is the synopsis for Joker.
“‘Joker’ centers around the iconic arch-nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. The exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”
An important distinction to make is that Gaga will not be replacing Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. As many DC fans are surely aware, Joker takes place in its own universe divorced from movies like Suicide Squad. So, Robbie could still play the part in future projects while Gaga has a path to make the character her own. Joker and Harley Quinn are tied strongly together in the DC canon. So, if they are going to make a sequel, including her makes sense. And it also seems they are going to make use of Gaga’s musical talents.
Joker was a smash hit grossing more than $1 billion at the global box office. It also earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination, with Phoenix winning Best Actor for his performance. There is no word yet on how soon production could begin but things seem to be coming together. As for Gaga, Phillips previously served as a producer on 2018’s A Star Is Born. That could have provided the connection to make this deal happen. Depending on how quickly things come together, we seemingly could see Folie a Deux in late 2023/early 2024.
Joker 2 does not yet have a release date.
What do you think? Do you like the idea of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn? Or would you prefer to avoid a sequel altogether? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
